Table Tennis takes centre stage in Dubai

Gulf News

Table Tennis takes centre stage in Dubai.Ping Pong Dubai leads efforts to promote table tennis among the masses in Dubai.  See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv

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00:00Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is enjoying a much-deserved time in the spotlight

00:12in the UAE as residents look for more indoor activities to enjoy in the summer months.

00:18It is easy to play and also serves as a great social outlet, which is why residents of different

00:23nationalities and from different walks of life are playing the sport.

00:29I think playing table tennis will help me hone my skills and get fit again.

00:35Two or four players can play at a time.

00:38Players hit a lightweight ball back and forth across a table using a small paddle.

00:43Ping Pong Dubai is a group in Dubai that is promoting the sport.

00:46It is a non-profit initiative between the UA Table Tennis Association, Dubai Sports

00:51Council and Falcon and Associates.

00:53The UAE has also tied up with table tennis superpower China to popularize the game in

00:58the country.

00:59You can find many talented players here and also we are happy to see many young players

01:04here.

01:05They are very talented and they are hard-working.

01:06We are trying to teach them and encourage them to also become international players

01:11and compete at the international level with the top players around the world.

01:15Ping Pong Dubai officially got underway in June 2013 at Dubai Sports World.

01:20Thousands of players from novice to expert have benefited from the program's free-to-use

01:25tables and have participated in its tournaments.

01:28The group has set up 12 tables that are free-to-use at Dubai Sports World inside the Dubai World

01:33Trade Center.

01:34There are also free lessons.

01:37We have five academies in the UAE.

01:40They can join with us.

01:43They can try to play, especially this game.

01:46They can play from young players to old players.

01:50They can play in the company, they can play at home, they can play in the school.

01:54It's a very famous game now.

01:57The group aims to encourage people from all walks of life to pick up a paddle and be more

02:02physically active.

02:03It will also be organizing table tennis events in various communities.

02:07Table tennis has many well-known health benefits, which makes it a great form of physical exercise.

02:13We take players from young for five years.

02:18In the beginning, we have to teach him techniques.

02:20It's very important to teach him techniques to improve.

02:24It's very important to teach him how to play forehand and backhand, and chop backhand,

02:29chop forehand.

02:30It is most important, and they know they have to play, they know technique correct.

02:37They can improve very fast, and we have to focus on them from the beginning.

02:43We have to be patient, we have to concentrate.

02:46This sport is very difficult for hand and eye coordination.

02:51You need to also have fast reaction.

02:53You have to take fast decision within one second.

02:57You have to be very flexible, you have to be very fast, you have to take always the

03:00correct position for every single rally, every single ball that you play.

03:05As an easy-to-learn sport with a rich tradition, table tennis appeals to a large across section

03:11of the society, regardless of age, ability or fitness.

03:15Irish Eden Galeazza for Golf News.

03:23www.globalonenessproject.org

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